****Begin File******************Begin File*******************Begin File**** *************************************************************************** ALAWON ALA Washington Office Newsline An electronic publication of the American Library Association Washington Office Volume 1, Number 15 November 5, 1992 In this issue: (201 lines) CORRECTION TO ALAWON VOL. 1, NO. 13 CAPITAL PREPARES FOR A NEW ADMINISTRATION IMPACT OF CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION RESULTS FINAL REGULATIONS AND INVITATIONS FOR NEW AWARDS ANNOUNCED FOR LSCA-VI GPO ELECTRONIC INFORMATION STUDY NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LITERACY BOARD TO MEET *************************************************************************** CORRECTION TO ALAWON VOL. 1, NO. 13 ALAWON Vol. 1, No. 13, distributed on October 21, 1992, incorrectly stated that NCLIS would meet on November 1 from 1:00 to 5:50. The correct date and time of the meeting is November 9 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. The meeting on Tuesday, November 10, from 9:15am to 2:00pm was announced correctly. *************************************************************************** CAPITAL PREPARES FOR A NEW ADMINISTRATION The expectation of change is palpable in Washington, due to this week's extraordinary election in which citizens voted in record-breaking numbers and a third-party presidential candidate received a significant percentage of the popular vote. The winning Clinton-Gore ticket brings to the White House a President-elect with a strong record of support for education in Arkansas and a commitment to making education a federal priority. As Vice- President, Sen. Albert Gore, Jr. (D-TN) will have a new and significant venue in which to carry forward his expansive vision of a National Research and Education Network. In the February 1992 issue of ALA's _American Libraries_, the then presidential candidates were asked to respond to a series of questions on library issues. Governor Bill Clinton said in part: "Our government should play as large a role as is needed to assure that library standards of service are upheld nationally, that the problem of illiteracy is effectively addressed, and that new technology is used to prevent a division between information rich and information poor citizens. If elected, I would stop the Department of Education from cutting the budget for public libraries." *************************************************************************** IMPACT OF CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION RESULTS Although not all results are yet final or official, the 103rd Congress will contain a large new group of diverse members. The House will have at least 110 new members. According to today's Washington Post, two of every five new members will be women or racial minorities. Many of them bring previous experience in government or politics. The House will contain 255 Democrats and 173 Republicans, with the outcome still uncertain in 6 races. The Democratic margin was shaved from 100 to 82. In the Senate the Democrats gained one seat; the ratio is 57 to 42 Republicans. In Georgia, incumbent Democrat Wyche Fowler did not receive 50 percent of the vote and under Georgia law faces a runoff election. Incumbent Senators defeated were Robert Kasten, Jr. (R-WI), Terry Sanford (D-NC), and John Seymour (R-CA). Seats held by committee or subcommittee chairs which deal directly with library programs or policy issues experienced little turnover. Retirements included Rep. Edward Roybal (D-CA), Chairman of the appropriations subcommittee which handles postal subsidies and the National Archives' budget; Rep. Frank Horton (R-NY), ranking minority member of the Government Operations Committee; and Rep. Carl Pursell (R-MI), ranking minority member of the appropriations subcommittee which handles education and library funding. Two other members of the education and library funding subcommittee who were generally supportive of libraries are gone -- Rep. Joseph Early (D-MA) lost his race, and Rep. Robert Mrazek (D-NY) lost in the primary. Another retiree was Sen. Tim Wirth (D-CO), who championed education aid as a member of the Budget Committee. Considerable change in committee assignments is expected because of the large turnover in the composition of Congress. Some current committee and subcommittee chairs may move to more desirable slots. The House expects to make committee assignments early in December; the Senate in January. However, subcommittee assignments may not be complete for some time. One caution -- library champions in Congress take time to develop. Most legislators come into office, not opposed to libraries, but not having campaigned on library issues, either. Library champions are developed over time through members' own interests, committee assignments, and the efforts of library constituents and national associations. Many of these library champions may be at risk because of new term limitations being approved in certain states. Term limits for Congress were approved by large margins in 14 states on November 3. In over half these states, service in the House is limited to 6 years. Congratulate the winners and establish contacts with new members early. Invite them to events at your libraries; make sure they know the variety of services libraries perform. Encourage new members who have been library trustees or with education or information policy experience to consider committee assignments where they can put this expertise to work. And please, let us know of useful library connections among the new legislators. Such information is very helpful to the ALA Washington Office in its work on behalf of libraries. *************************************************************************** FINAL REGULATIONS AND INVITATIONS FOR NEW AWARDS ANNOUNCED FOR LSCA-VI The Department of Education has issued its final regulations governing LSCA Title VI, the Library Literacy Program. This is the first major revision to the regulations since the program began in 1986. A new statutory priority for programs and services that demonstrate need and coordination has been added, and the definition of "literacy" has been revised as required by the National Literacy Act. "Literacy" is now defined as "an individual's ability to read, write, and speak in English, compute, and solve problems at levels of proficiency necessary to function on the job and in society; to achieve one's goals; and to develop one's knowledge and potential." For further information, see the _Federal Register_, October 30, 1992, pp. 49263-70. Applications for LSCA VI awards will be available from the Department of Education beginning November 17, 1992. The deadline for submitting applications is January 15, 1993. The Department estimates that 255 awards, ranging from $5,000 to $35,000, will be available. The total funding for LSCA VI for FY93 is $8,908,000. State libraries can receive assistance for projects to coordinate and plan library literacy programs for adults, or arrange for the training of librarians and volunteers to carry out these types of programs. Local public libraries can receive assistance to promote the use of the voluntary services of individuals, agencies, and organizations in providing literacy programs for adults; acquire library materials for literacy programs; or use library facilities for literacy programs. For further information contact Carolyn Cameron Lyons or Barbara Humes, Program Officers, Library Development Staff, Library Programs, U.S. Department of Education, 555 New Jersey Ave., NW, room 404, Washington, DC 20208-5571. Phone: 202-219-1315. Hearing impaired individuals can call the Federal Dual Party Relay Service at 800-877-8339 (202-708-9300 in the Washington, DC area) between 8:00am and 7:00pm Eastern time. *************************************************************************** GPO ELECTRONIC INFORMATION STUDY Although HR 5983, the Government Printing Office Electronic Information Access Enhancement Act of 1992, failed to pass, a key element of the bill did become law. The feasibility study called for in the bill was approved as part of HR 5427, the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill for FY93. A colloquy between Sen. Wendell Ford (D-KY), Chair of the Senate Rules Committee, and Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), Chair of the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch Appropriations, clarified that it was the intention of the conferees on H.R. 5427 (H. Rept. 102-1007) "to direct the Superintendent of Documents to conduct a feasibility study to enhance public access to Federal electric [sic] information and to utilize the assistance of the Community College Distance Learning Center in Owensboro, KY, in that study. That feasibility study is not dependent on passage of H.R. 5983." (see October 5 _Congressional Record_, p. S16684) *************************************************************************** NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LITERACY BOARD TO MEET The National Institute for Literacy Board will meet on November 19 and 21. On November 19, the Board will meet from 1:30 to 3:15pm at the National Institute for Literacy, 800 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20006. The meeting will be a briefing on standards of conduct, legislative history of the National Institute for Literacy, and rules governing the Board under the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the General Education Act. On November 21, the Board will meet at the Annapolis Marriott Waterfront, 80 Compromise Street, Annapolis, MD 21401. From 10:15 to 11:30am, the Board will discuss the hiring needs of the Institute, in particular, the duties and the desired qualifications for the Director and other staff positions. This portion of the meeting will be open to the public. From 12:30 to 4:30pm, the Board will meet in closed session to discuss scopes of work options and associated costs for a proposed request for proposal. For further information, contact Thomas R. Hill, Executive Officer, National Institute for Literacy, 800 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20006. Phone: 202-632-1500. *************************************************************************** ALAWON is an irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office, 110 Maryland Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC 20002-5675. Editor and List Owner: Fred King. Phone: 202-547-4440; Fax: 202-547-7363; Bitnet: NU_ALAWASH@CUA; Internet: NU_ALAWASH@CUA.EDU All or part of ALAWON may be redistributed, with appropriate credits. ALAWON is available free of charge and is available only in electronic form. To subscribe, send the message "subscribe ala-wo [your name]" to the Bitnet address listserv@uicvm. Back issues of ALAWON will be available soon. Instructions on how to retrieve them will be published in future issues. *************************************************************************** ***End of file******************End of file******************End of file***